When it launched, the Lotus Carlton was praised for its performance and driving dynamics, but not many could afford it due to its high price. This example that’s for sale in Hampshire, UK, proves that not much has changed.

Offered by Park Lane Limited, the owner is asking £119,995 ($165,000). And while that’s a lot, there are good reasons for the price.

First, it’s in very good condition. Having driven just 4,565 miles despite being 30 years old, it’s unlikely to feel worn out or even in. It’s also quite rare. As a result of costing nearly twice as much as the standard Vauxhall Carlton, only 320 Lotus Carltons (and 630 Opel Lotus Omegas) were made.

Despite the low sales, the car was critically acclaimed. Famed for being able to outperform supercars of the era, its official top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h) made it the fastest four-door sedan of the era.

Read Also: Without Its Limiter, The Lotus Carlton Was Actually Capable Of 190 MPH

Power came from a thoroughly modified version of Vauxhall’s straight-six. Pumped up to 3.6-liter and with two Garrett T25 turbos, it made 377 hp. The power was routed to the rear wheels through a ZF 6-speed manual transmission, the same one used by the Corvette ZR1 of the era.

The base car’s handling was already well-liked by reviewers at the time, but Lotus improved the suspension for better high-speed stability and handling dynamics. The Goodyear Eagle tires (wrapped around 17-inch Ronal wheels) had the same compound as the ones on the Lotus Esprit Turbo SE and were also chosen for high-speed stability.

Indeed, that high-speed stability gave it a bit of a reputation. A stolen Carlton was driven by a gang of thieves in 1993 who used it to commit a number of ram raids, stealing around £20,000 in liquor and cigarettes. Local police complained that they had no hope of catching the Carlton which could hit nearly double their cars’ top speed.

Returning to this example, car number 28 was recently given a full recommissioning by Bell and Colville Lotus to prepare it for sale. Along with being in immaculate condition, it also comes with the original numbered booklet that was given along with each model.

The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K
The Lotus Carlton Was The Fastest Saloon In 1991 And A Low-Mileage One Goes For $165K